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As part of my ongoing Open University studies i would ask you please to answer the following questions. Your replies to 'stephen_parrish@msn.com' or parrish@qp.com.qa
1) when considering the purchase of a new car do you give any consideration to what materials go into its manufacture? ie: Steel Aluminium, plastic, does the cars material matter at all when considering the purchase?
2)What are the factors you consider important when buying a new car?
3) Would you percieve a car constructed entirely (with the exception of some glass and plastic parts) of Aluminium to be as safe, safer or not as safe as a car constructed from steel?
4) Do you consider recyclability of the car an issue when considering the purchase? Would it affect your descision?
Any other comments are welcome, if you feel you cant answer all the questions please just answer those you want to. If you want to ask me any questions i welcome them Regards Steve
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Dez
Club Retro Rides Member
And I won't sit down. And I won't shut up. And most of all I will not grow up.
Posts: 11,786
Club RR Member Number: 34
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Help OU studiesDez
@dez
Club Retro Rides Member 34
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1.- yes. less plastic the better. 2.- coolness- slamability- pimpingness 3.no 4.kind of. ease of weldabily for repair and modification is an issue
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Last Edit: Jul 8, 2005 3:02:06 GMT by Dez
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том
Posted a lot
"If in doubt, flat out!"
Posts: 2,707
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1. um, no
2. How cool it is, head turning ability, what engine its got
3. no
4. no
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1988 V8 Rangey Bobtail :: 1968 Volvo Amazon 133 Ratrod :: 1977 Land Rover 88 :: 1985 Opel Monza GSE :: 1983 MKII Fiesta
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1. No, although I would perceive an aluminium car to be better-engineered than a steel one.
2. No, a cars styling is probably most important - but then that car should still be capable/fit in other areas.
3. Until you asked the question, yes...but now you come to mention it...maybe not! Although I've ridden plenty of Aluminium (pedal) bikes and found them to be equally as strong as steel and usually stiffer.
4. No...I'd like to think my prospective new car could last forever....buying a car considering it's disposal is like planning a divorce on your wedding day.
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1) No. 2) Price, obscurity level, geographic location, instinct, amount of £ burning a hole in my pocket. 3) Yes 4) No.
What OU course are you doing?
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1972 Fiat 130 1985 Talbot Alpine 1974 Lancia Beta Saloon 1975 + 1986 Mazda 929 Koop + Wagon 1982 Fiat Argenta 2.0 iniezione elettronica 1977 Toyota Carina TA14 BEST CAR EVER!!!!!!!! 1979 Datsun B310 Sunny 4-dr 1984 Audi 200 Quattro Turbo 1983 Honda Accord 1.6 DX GONE1989 Alfa 75 2.0 TS Mr T says: TREAT YO MOTHER RIGHT!
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1) No. 2) Is it uber-cheap for what it is? Will I get in trouble with the wife? 3) No 4) Yes (But only if it can be easily broken down to component parts for eBay flogging. Active Recycling!)
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1. I wouldn't consider Aluminium only on the grounds that its not cheap to repair, but there's no problems with percieved safety.
2. Reliability, fun to drive and looks
3. Yes, aluminium is just as safe
4. Most of us on this forum drive recycled cars - its far cheaper to keep our cars running longer than the manufacturers suggested life span, rather than dispose the car once it reaches its 'supposed' end of life.
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ImpManiac
Part of things
Imps... Imps... Imps...
Posts: 868
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1) when considering the purchase of a new car do you give any consideration to what materials go into its manufacture? ie: Steel Aluminium, plastic, does the cars material matter at all when considering the purchase? Firstly, I cannot think of a situation where I'd shell out for a new car. I just do not think it is sound financial sense. That said, if I were to consider it... I would consider the materials and manufacturing processes that had been used. Material choice and manufacturing process both have eco-environmental implications. 2)What are the factors you consider important when buying a new car? Styling, equipment spec., engine design and performance, fuel consumption, probably recyclability, packages for free servicing and warranty, etc. 3) Would you percieve a car constructed entirely (with the exception of some glass and plastic parts) of Aluminium to be as safe, safer or not as safe as a car constructed from steel? Yes. It would still have to meet EuroNCAP standards. It would be at least as safe as a steel-bodied vehicle. 4) Do you consider recyclability of the car an issue when considering the purchase? Would it affect your descision? Probably would consider recyclability. If comparing two otherwise similar cars, it may be a factor in my decision. Answers embedded in your original message above. Hope this helps! Which course are you studying for? I'm
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1966 Singer Chamois sprint/hillclimb car in white over blue two tone 1975 Triumph Stag long term project (over 20 years so far) in colour TBA 2003 Vauxhall Vectra GSi 3.2 in black sapphire
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Thanks for the replies to date, keep them comming. Course I'm doing is 'T355 Manufacturing Technology' Project Title is: The use of Alluminium for automobile chassis/framework design' hence questions, I'm including a consumer view point on purchase considerations. Have you ever wondered why we arent all driving around in alluminium cars? Steve
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No - the reasons are simple. Steel is cheaper, and easier to manipulate both during manufacture and in service (i.e. after a bump!)
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1972 Fiat 130 1985 Talbot Alpine 1974 Lancia Beta Saloon 1975 + 1986 Mazda 929 Koop + Wagon 1982 Fiat Argenta 2.0 iniezione elettronica 1977 Toyota Carina TA14 BEST CAR EVER!!!!!!!! 1979 Datsun B310 Sunny 4-dr 1984 Audi 200 Quattro Turbo 1983 Honda Accord 1.6 DX GONE1989 Alfa 75 2.0 TS Mr T says: TREAT YO MOTHER RIGHT!
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Help OU studiesBenzBoy
@benzboy
Club Retro Rides Member 7
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Right, I'm taking these questions as referring to brand-new cars rather than cars that are just new to me. I'd never really buy a new car but I'll pretend, for the purpose of this exercise 1) I like to see unusual materials in cars. Oceans of grey plastic is just dull. 2) Obscurity, styling, mod-ability all matter to me. 3) Aluminium is perfectly strong - people quite happily sit on planes made of tonnes of the stuff, so in cars it's fine (and lighter!) 4) Hmmm.... with the cars I buy, I'm usually saving them from being "recycled" . It wouldn't be an issue with me as I don't think buying a brand new car is a particularly environmentally sound decision in the first place (more energy used in its manufacture than in 70 years of driving it and all that...).
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Seeing as I take it this applies to new cars, I'll also assume for these questions that I'd actually buy a new car, although I wouldn't really. 1- Yes, I'm not terribly keen on motors with too much plastic about the place, and I prefer steel when I have to do bodywork repairs because I have more experience with steel on bodywork. 2- Price, ability to modify/customise it, ease of maintenance, engine/drive layout (e.g. rear engine/rear drive) 3- I think an all-alloy car could, if it was engineered well, be as safe as a well engineered steel-bodied car. (Haven't Audi been known to use a lot of alloy in their construction?) 4- I suppose so, I don't like just to scrap a car if I can use parts of it, I prefer to re-use as many parts of it as I can. Hope that helps!
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"He's not the messiah, he's a very naughty boy!"
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No. Fuel efficient - performance - handling/road holding - safety (but not necessarily in that order) As safe - depends on manufacturer. e.g. a semi plastic renault megane is safer than an all steel rover 25... Yes.
BB
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Yesterday at 7:54, pogweasel wrote:
Nothing wrong with creature comforts. If I want masochism, I'll just go and slam my knackers in the fridge door for a bit.
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